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"You need not worry," said the stranger to Hugh "I am not your enemy, but a friend I warn you that Marseilles is unsafe for you Get away as soon as possible The Spanish police have learnt that you have coh was aerly

"I was instructed to watch for your arrival--and to warn you"

"Who instructed you?"

"A friend of yours--and mine--The Sparrow"

"Has he been here?"

"No He spoke to me on the telephone from Paris"

"What were his instructions?"

"That you were to go at once--to-night--by car to the Hotel de Paris, at Cette A car and driver awaits you at the Garage Beauvau, in the Rue Beauvau I have arranged everything at The Sparrow's orders You are one of Us, I understand," and the h

"Go to the hotel, pay your bill, and take your bag to the station cloak-rooet out on the road to Cette as soon as ever you can Your driver will ask no questions, and will remain silent He has his orders from The Sparrow"

"Does The Sparrow ever coh asked

"Yes, sos hio He was at your hotel, and the police were so hot upon his track that only by dint of great pro out of theof his roo by means of the rain-water pipe It was one of the narrowest escapes he has ever had"

As the words left thea well-lit brasserie A tall, cadaverous lances of recognition

Was his pretended friend an agent of the police?

For a few seconds he debated within hiht be to bring instant arrest upon hier were actually a detective--which he certainly did not appear to be--then the ruse was to get hial formalities were not yet complete for his arrest as a British subject

Yet he knew all about The Sparrow, and his attitude was not in the least hostile

Hugh could not er was an associate of the fa him into the net